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I <br /> I <br />I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br />CASE # I <br /> <br /> CULVERT REPAIR POLICY <br />By: Engineer Steven Jankowski <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />Throughout most of the City, drainage is facilitated through a system of culverts. The majority of <br />these culverts are placed beneath individual driveways, but culverts also cross public roadways. <br /> <br />When drainage problems arise, the City is often asked to repair, replace or install culverts. There <br />is a question of responsibility at issue since individual driveway culverts are required to be placed <br />by the hom~o~ whets on City right-of-ways. City Code 9.11.08(d) only briefly addresses the <br />requirement Of culverts as follows: <br /> <br /> "When n~essary, the lot owner shall install a culvert of adequate size, as determined by the <br /> Building 0ffieial. All culverts shall be a minimum of 15 inches in diameter." <br /> <br />Staff believes it would be helpful to develop a written policy to address the responsibilities that <br />arise concerning this issue. We are suggesting the following provisions be incorporated in such a <br />policy. <br /> <br />· The City ~hall be responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of culverts which cross City <br /> streets. <br /> <br />The prol~rty owner shall be responsible for the cost of installing and maintaining any culvert <br />which provides access to his property. Rationale: There are approximately 5,000 culverts in <br />the city find the sheer number makes it unreasonable to expect that the Public Works <br />Department can clean and repair this number. Also the culvert, although it is on public <br />property, ~rovides its primary benefit to the property owner and should be considered similarly <br />to mailboxes and sprinkler heads. Finally, the method of cleaning partially filled culverts by <br />the Publiv Works Department is the same as the homeowner, by hand. This policy might be <br />reconsidered if a power vacuum or mechanical piece of equipment could be obtained by the <br />City in thc future. <br /> <br />The City will accept the responsibility for cleaning ditches between culverts. Rationale: The <br />City does~own heavy equipment to facilitate ditch cleaning, whereas, the homeowner could not <br />reasonably be expected to undertake this type of work. Also, the filling of ditches is primarily <br />caused byl activities which are not a direct result of homeowner activities. <br /> <br />The Public Works Supervisor should be given the authorized to require any homeowner to <br />install, repair or maintain their culvert. Failure to comply with a proper order within a <br />reasonable amount of time, or in case an emergency should be cause for having the work <br />performed by Public Works and the cost assessed to the property owner. <br /> <br />Committee Action: <br /> <br />Based on di~ussion, direct the City Engineer to prepare a policy for consideration by City <br />Council. <br /> <br />Reviewed by: <br />City Engineer <br /> <br />RB:07/27/93 <br /> <br />I <br /> <br /> <br />